Methods and apparatus for producing the halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide, by ion exchange

Abstract

The halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide is produced from its chlorite reactant using ion exchange media in a stable reactant form, and then passing a known concentration of counter ions through the ion exchange media in a moist environment so that there is an exchange of ions, and the reactants that are released form activated chlorine dioxide within the ion exchange material. The ion exchange media both contributes reactants to and extracts contaminants from the moist environment via its ion exchange mechanism. The counter ions may be derived from one or more stable precursor solutions which themselves may contain reactants and/or soluble catalysts. The reactants of the precursor solutions cannot act as the counter ion, or ions, in the ion exchange mechanism, but the soluble catalysts can. The ion exchange media can be mixed or layered with one or more insoluble catalysts, to enhance the formation of the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide within the ion exchange material.

1 . A process for producing the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide, from its chlorite reactant using ion exchange media in a stable reactant form comprising the steps of:
 1) passing one or more stable precursor solutions containing a known concentration of counter ions through an ion exchange media in a moist environment;   2) exchanging said counter ions with the ions present on said ion exchange media, which said ion exchange media both contributes reactants to said moist environment and extracts contaminants from said moist environment via its ion exchange mechanism; and   3) producing the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide, within the ion exchange media.   
   
   
       2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said ion exchange media is partially in the stable reactant form. 
   
   
       3 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said ion exchange media is mixed with an additive. 
   
   
       4 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said counter ions are derived from one or more stable precursor solutions that contain reactants, which do not act as the counter ions in the process. 
   
   
       5 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said one or more stable precursor solutions contain at least one soluble catalyst, which may act as the counter ions in the process. 
   
   
       6 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said ion exchange material is mixed or layered with one or more insoluble catalysts. 
   
   
       7 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein said ion exchange material is a singular ion exchange material, a layered ion exchange material or a mixed ion exchange material. 
   
   
       8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the source of said counter ions are selected from the group consisting of a brine solution, reject effluent from a reverse osmosis system, or tap water. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus for producing the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide, using the process of  claim 1  comprising:
 at least one container, each having an inlet and an outlet;   said containers being connected to each other in series, wherein said first container is connected and in communication with at least one precursor reservoir at its inlet, and said outlet of the first container also connected and in communication with the inlet of said second container;   the outlet of said second container connected and in communication with the inlet of the third container; and so on, each container also containing ion exchange media;   said precursor reservoir or reservoirs each containing a precursor solution;   corresponding feed pumps, having an inlet and outlet, disposed in between and in communication with the precursor reservoir or reservoirs and the inlet of said first container;   wherein said feed pump or pumps is capable of delivering the precursor solution or solutions from the precursor reservoir or reservoirs to the inlet of the first container; and   a sample port after each container, which is capable of allowing a sample of the effluent from either of the containers to be obtained.   
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for producing the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide using the process of  claim 1  comprising:
 a container, having an inlet and an outlet;   said container containing ion exchange media, wherein said ion exchange media is composed of at least two layers of ion exchange media;   at least one precursor reservoir each containing a precursor solution;   corresponding feed pumps, having an inlet and outlet, disposed in between and in communication with the precursor reservoir or reservoirs and the inlet of said container;   wherein said feed pump is capable of delivering the precursor solution or solutions from the precursor reservoir or reservoirs to the inlet of the first container; and   a sample port, capable of allowing a sample of the effluent from the container to be obtained.   
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for producing the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide comprising:
 a container, having an inlet and an outlet;   said container containing ion exchange media, wherein said ion exchange media is composed of at least one layer of ion exchange media;   at least one precursor reservoir each containing a precursor solution;   corresponding feed pumps, having an inlet and outlet, disposed in between and in communication with the precursor reservoir or reservoirs and the inlet of said container;   wherein said feed pump is capable of delivering the precursor solution or solutions from the precursor reservoir or reservoirs to the inlet of the first container; and
 a sample port, capable of allowing a sample of the effluent from the container to be obtained; 
   wherein one or more stable precursor solutions containing a known concentration of counter ions is passed through at least one ion exchange media in a moist environment;   said counter ions are exchanged with the ions present on said ion exchange media, in which said ion exchange media both contributes reactants to said moist environment and extracts contaminants from said moist environment via its ion exchange mechanism; and   producing the activated halogen dioxide, chlorine dioxide.